Nigeria, Pakistan Strengthen Military Relations, Boost Capacity Building

Nigeria’s military partnership with Pakistan has been highlighted as a huge gain by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, who revealed that over 2,000 Nigerian military officers have been trained in various Pakistani defence institutions.

The partnership has yielded much, particularly in building capacity and expert training, according to Musa, during a high-level visit by Pakistan’s topmost military officer to the Defence Headquarters Abuja.

The visit by General Shahir Shamsad Mirza, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan is intended to boost bilateral defence co-operation between the two countries.

Musa received the Defence Chief of Pakistan to underscore the importance of capacity-building programmes in Nigeria’s anti-terror, anti-insurgency, and other security initiatives.

“Our collaboration with the Pakistani military has played a vital role in enhancing the skills of our officers, with over 2,000 personnel trained in strategic and tactical studies, including Special Forces training, sharing of intelligence, security of the border, and veteran affairs management,” Musa stated.

Mirza praised Nigeria’s military for its tenacity and willingness to tackle insecurity, describing the country as a “giant leader in Africa” whose strategic value is of concern to Pakistan. He emphasized the mutual benefits of long-term cooperation, citing mutual threats of terrorism and insurgency, and enunciating Pakistan’s desire to upgrade combined capability to defeat such threats.

The Pakistani Defence Chief also evinced interest in collaborating with Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation for bolstering industry-level defence cooperation.

This move is expected to further enhance the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries, enhancing their capacity to address common security challenges.

The visit is a significant milestone in the Nigeria-Pakistan military relationship, which has been yielding fruitful outcomes in recent years. With both countries still having the same security concerns, their collaboration is expected to be at the forefront of promoting regional stability and security.